It's upon us once again. The mass exodus seems to have started today from the Pattaya side here. Bumper to bumper outbound and full busses. Local city traffic decreasing.
The big celebration day here is not until April 19 so perhaps a week of low traffic and then all hell will break loose the evening of April 18. Good time to lock yourself away at home.
I used to enjoy going downtown and mixing it up but it's become dangerous. I almost lost an eye in 2005 from a high pressure water gun. A yearly tradition here with visiting farang tourists (not expats) is to get a 55 gallon drum and fill it with water and ice, place it in a beer bar area and pay the girls to dip themselves into it. Becomes a wet shirt competition at the same time.
Anyway, what craziness is planned for HH, and how many of you are venturing out of town for the period? Pete
As I understand it, the actual celebration days are the 13th,14th and 15th of April, but in different areas the partys can go on for several days longer.
Honestly Jockey, I believe the official, official days are the 13th and 14th country wide, where Thai's and normal people pay respects to their elders and practice the CORRECT way to celebrate the holiday.
In a place like Pattaya, apparently they need to separate the 'real' from the 'bizarre' by about a week to make sure all sane people are off the streets before the farangs are let loose. Good strategy. Pete
Memories of last year...........................................wish I was there.
However, one bad memory...........................4 consecutive salvos from JW's iced Weapon of Mass Destruction - it ended my day rather quickly (at least until he moved on). He's never told me why - was I just too big a target?
Songkhran in Hua Hin is celebrated on 13th April. Stay out of the town if you don't want a good soaking. Great fun if you arm yourselves with water jetguns and pitch up with some friends around town centre. There is a constant procession of pick up trucks loaded with youngsters and water tanks. Don't be afraid of people carrying bowls of white paste - it's talc and a small amount is usually applied on the face for good luck but usually slapped liberally over fallangs. Funniest thing I ever saw was a fallang trying to get to the Hilton along Naretdamri Road carrying golf clubs and in smart golfing clobber - and he was slaughtered! Didn't help that he lost his rag which just made him fair game to the locals! It's a brilliant day.
I think, strictly speaking, that Songkran is 13-15th April.
In HH the water throwing is reserved for the 13th only (as has been said). There's no guarantee that you won't get wet after the 13th, but within town you should be OK.
I can't decide what to do this year.
Two years ago, I was recovering from a motorbike accident and so couldn't get my leg wet. I went out on the 12th with a plastic bag around it on that day and just let it all happen.
Last year, I was boring and stayed indoors.
This year - watch out all and sundry. Everyone is fair game.
The only exceptions are monks, old people and babies.
Also don't ride your motorbikes.
If it's water fun and games you're after I'd recommend Chiang Mai or anywhere in the North. I was there 2 years ago and had a fantastic time, which lasted for a whole week not just 3 days.
I spent the entire week in a bar owned by a Brit with loads of others of all nationalities and a huge arsenal of water weapons and 45 gallon drums full of iced water. It was my first Songkhran and I made the most of it, but you have to watch out for people squirting you with water from the river...makes the skin itch.
Don't be afraid of people carrying bowls of white paste - it's talc and a small amount is usually applied on the face for good luck but usually slapped liberally over fallangs.
As a rule of thumb I would generally agree, however some people use the talc that keeps you cool. When it gets in your eyes, its a killer - twice last year I had to have my eyes washed out with fresh clear water.
As a side note, stating last night and continuing today I am finding my dial up internet connection to be unusually fast and trouble free. This may be a hidden benefit of most of the population out playing and away from work, schools and internet cafes. . Maybe we/I will have 3-4 headache free days. Pete
Hi Big Boy, shame we wont see you this year - last year you were just a bit unlucky - you were walking by at just the wrong times!! When the water was ICY COLD.
My weapon has disappeared - big shame! Got a pumber making a new improved version!! Will be ready next year.
Ohh yeah I haven't seen expirienced Songkran in Thailand for two consecutive years allready But I had expirienced Songkran fest among the Thai Community in Los Angeles, California. but I would like to expirience Thai style Songkran fest again.
But I wonder does it make sense to waste Water in such amount to splash and soak ourselves silly while over 40 Provinces are suffering from drought. would it be better to sent the water that we splash to help those provinces in drought?
But not to spoil all the festive mood I'm looking forward by organising a Songkran Soaking and splashing among Thais here in Berlin myself!!!!
Pete as I heard from your account that Traffic has picked up in Pattaya allready? I hope Traffic and People flow in Hua Hin willl be manageable and people in Hua Hin do the Soaking and splashing in a sanely manner!
Your's the understudy!!!
In Love with Hua Hin since 19naughty9 and it ain't fading!!!
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
The understudy wrote: Pete as I heard from your account that Traffic has picked up in Pattaya allready?
No, the opposite. Each year the quanitity of cars and motorcycles actually decreases. I think because so many workers here from other provinces who go home during the period. Yes, we have Bangkonians coming for the holidays but not as many as those leaving. Pattaya each year is really somewhat of a pleasant, uncrowded place during Songkran, up until the celebration day and then it is just best to stay off the street completely. Pete
you were just a bit unlucky - you were walking by at just the wrong times!! When the water was ICY COLD.
Unlucky? Walking by? I was innocently sat at the front of the Happy Toro Bar minding my own business (and shooting the odd intruder), when you let loose your WMD from the bar opposite. OK we were totally outgunned by you.
Maybe without the beast this year, you'll get some of your own back
